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Viacom18 Studios, Cape Of Good Films and Wakaao Films’ Oh My God 2 (A) is the second in the Oh My God! film franchise.
Kantilal Mudgal (Pankaj Tripathi) is a devotee of Lord Shiva. All hell breaks loose when his school-going son is dismissed from school after a video showing him masturbating in the school toilet goes viral. Rather than treating this as his son’s mistake, Kantilal drags the school, besides some others, to court for not imparting sex education to students. He prays for reinstatement of his son in the same school and for apology and token damages by the wrong-doers. While he argues his case himself, the case of the school and other defendants is argued by Kamini (Yami Gautam Dhar). Guiding him in his quest for justice is a reincarnation of Lord Shiva (Akshay Kumar). What happens finally? Does the judge (Pavan Raj Malhotra) pass an order in favour of Kantilal or not?
Amit Rai has written a very bold story with noble intentions but while some parts are very interesting, there are portions when the story dips. His screenplay is good in parts but it is not tight and consistent. Since it is a difficult drama, the writer sometimes loses track but comes back on track — and this happens several times. Consequently, the drama does not remain engrossing throughout. Kamini keeps accusing Kantilal of misleading the court, but the audience gets the feeling that the one misleading the court is none other than Kamini herself. Her argument that it would be very difficult to impart sex education in school falls flat if only because as a renowned lawyer, she should’ve been aware that several schools do have sex education in their curriculum. It also becomes difficult for the audience to understand whether the two lawyers are fighting about the need to have sex education in schools or about reinstating Kantilal’s son in school. No doubt, both are interconnected but the arguments don’t appear convincing enough because while one lawyer talks about sex education in school, the other often talks about the reinstatement. It is not just lawyer Kamini who raises irrelevant points as above, but even the judge, towards the end, does the same. He concludes that since the school had sought to settle the matter out of court by giving Kantilal a cheque for Rs. 1 crore, it (school) must be in the wrong. Really? What kind of a judge is he? Doesn’t he know that it is not rare for a party to settle a legal matter out of court even though it may not be wrong. This is not to say that the drama does not have any plus points. It does! Some of the humorous anecdotes in the courtroom drama evoke laughter. Some scenes are also heart-touching. A couple of scenes are even clapworthy. However, the exhilaration, which the viewers should’ve experienced, is missing. The audience would’ve felt fulfilled had they been moved to tears at the final outcome, but that doesn’t happen. This is another proof that the courtroom drama does not consume the viewers so completely that they feel elated and fulfilled. Amit Rai’s dialogues are very nice at several places. But then, there are also blatantly incorrect dialogues like Kamini asking to meet the shameless father of a young boy who announces that he too masturbates. Why is the father shameless if, say, he is not even aware that his son indulges in the act? Surely, Kamini would have no answer. Dialogues like the above are written and uttered just for effect but because they are incorrect, their impact is not half as good as it ought to have been. Also, the dialect of Hindi used by many of the main characters will not be easily comprehensible to many among the audience, more so in Southern India. This will restrict the film’s appeal.
Pankaj Tripathi does well in the role of Kantilal Mudgal. However, he does suffer on account of lack of a tight script. Akshay Kumar is endearing in a lengthy special appearance kind of role. Yami Gautam Dhar is alright as advocate Kamini but there should’ve been more variation in her acting. Pavan Raj Malhotra does the fullest justice to the role of the judge. Aarush Varma is natural in the role of Kantilal’s son, Vivek. Geeta Agrawal lends lovely support as Kantilal’s wife. Anvesha Vij makes a fine impression as Kantilal’s daughter. Arun Govil is quite good. Govind Namdev makes his mark as the priest. Brijendra Kala has his moments as the sexologist. Shreedhar Dubey lends good support as Kantilal’s Man Friday. Rushikesh Waydande is absolutely fantastic as the judge’s stenographer-typist. Jitendra Shastri is okay as the sex medication seller. Jogi Mallang shines as the police inspector. Parag Chhapekar leaves a mark as the medical shop owner. Simran Sharma (as the prostitute), Karan Aanand (as Praful Maheshwari), Hemant Kumar Choudhary (as Nagdev Sir), Vijay Mishra (as advocate Ajab Bundela), Rajan Bhise (as the quack), Sunil Shroff (as principal Makwana), Vedika Nawani (as Sophie), Mir Mohammad Mehrooz (as Romil), Bhavesh Babani (as the judge’s son), Aashriya Mishra (as the priest’s grand-daughter), Jyoti D. Tiwari (as the priest’s daughter-in-law) and the others are adequate.
Amit Rai’s direction is fairly good but it does not evoke the emotions it should’ve, in the viewers. Also, he has made a film which is elitist in appeal more than for the masses. Music (Djstrings, Vikram Montrose, Pranaay and Sandesh Shandilya) is alright although, it must be added, the absence of a hit score is sorely felt. ‘Oonchi oonchi waadi’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’ are fairly well-tuned numbers. Lyrics (Kabeer Shukla, Hansraj Raghuwanshi, Djstrings, Shekhar Astitwa, Ginny Diwan and Sandesh Shandilya) are okay. Song picturisations (by Ganesh Acharya, Sneha Kapoor and Lipsa Acharya) are average. Mangesh Dhakde’s background music is nice. Amalendu Chaudhary’s cinematography is of a good standard. Vikram Dahiya’s action ansd stunt scenes are functional. Nikhil Kovale’s production designing (Narendra Ruhrekar of Dfine Arts for the ‘Har Har Mahadev’ song) is appropriate. Suvir Nath’s editing ought to have been tighter.
On the whole, Oh My God 2 is a fair entertainer as it has a novel and bold subject and some very good portions. It will benefit due to the Independence Day holiday on Tuesday. But on the negative side are the following: the opposition of Gadar 2 (in North India) and Rajini The Jailer (in South), both released this week, will cost it dear because the latter films have come as roadrollers; the dialect used for the dialogues will come in the way of people’s comprehension; and the lack of a tight script and the missing emotional quotient will restrict its appeal. All the above will come in the way of the film scoring too well at the box-office. In other words, the film’s business will be less than the critical acclaim.
Released on 11-8-’23 at Inox (daily 6 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by Viacom18 Motion Pictures. Publicity: very good. Opening: so-so. …….Also released all over. Opening was below the mark at most of the places.